20yr Class Reunion

OK, first of all, there is no way that I feel like I have been out of high school for 20 years. I am just not that old. It was great to reconnect with some old friends, but it is strange to realize that even after 20 years, people still tend to hang out in "clicks", though mingling was easy and taken great, you could still tell who thought they were the cool group, the party group, the leadership group and so on..... somethings NEVER change.

Here are a few pictures from my 20 year renuion this past weekend.

Friday night mixer at Mallard Creek Golf Course






























My date for the night , Sonja (Sanders) Neperud since Aaron really, really did not want to go.

Saturday night dinner at the Lebanon Elk (where all our proms, and Aaron & I's wedding were held)

Dinner table (Me, Suzi, Michelle, David, Eric, Sherry & Sonja)

Group picture, I am hoping that the professional one turns out MUCH better.

Busy summer.........

Ok, So I have not been very good the last month or so on getting my blog caught up. But there is only so much time in the day, and it all seems to be scheduled with things to do.

So hear is a brief outline of what has been happening since I last wrote...

Late July.......Savannah went to gymnastics camp, and did AWESOME!! The coaches thought she was a level 7 and she just turned a level 6, she learned a "half on" on the vault, and layouts on the floor, back handsprings (with a spot) on the beam, and all in all had a GREAT workout. Now her down time was not so great, her anxiety got to her (which we have not seen for almost 3 years, and thought maybe we had conquered, but I guess not) and we had some really really late night calls, but she made it through the last day. This is what happens when you send your good camera with Savannah to camp, she took 2, YES TWO, pictures they whole time. And not one of her.

Ki, Meg, Brittany & Sarah

Then Aaron's brother Mike, his wife Karen, and their children Ana & Sam came into town from Henderson, NV for a visit. We had not seen them since Sept 2005 when we met up at Disneyland.

They kids had a great time, played in the pool, jumped on the trampoline, went to The Bite of Salem, Salem Saturday market, had a birthday BBQ for Aaron and Karen, and last but not least we tried to set everyone down for a family pictures (but that many people makes it hard)

The weekend of August 3-5th, my friend Angie and I went to the Oregon Jamboree. We have been in the past and have always had a great time, this time the line up included Steve Holy, Dierks Bentley, Aaron Tippin, Trisha Yearwood, Bucky Covington, Lorrie Morgan, Neal McCoy, & Jo Dee Messina. Neal put on the BEST show, hands down! But Jo Dee played an encore that ended up being 10 songs long........it was great!!

Then last weekend, we went camping.........well we camped. Our friends and us wanted to go camping, but did not figure it out early enough to make reservations, so we camped in our backyard. We set up tents, made a fire, had smores, and had a great weekend!

Now only 20 more days until school starts, a 20th high school reunion, registration for middle school, and one more long weekend to plans away......what will it be.....Ocean, Mountains, or something different.......we all will know as soon as Aaron can make a decision (which we all know will take days, then it will be a last minute rush to plan). Got to love him!!

Grand Weekend

We just got back from a faboulous 3 day trip to Pacific City, OR.

The weather was warm and sunny, the food was great, and the company was even better.

It was a wonderful weekend, our friends, Eric & Angie, celebrate their 1st anniversary,

We played on the beach (yes that is me laying down, I actually have an excuse, their 17th month old Meghan is alseep on my chest, and I was trying to keep her from getting sun burned :) )

,

The kids and Aaron climbed the dunes, & they all jumped waves in the ocean

We played games, watched the waves, and laughed till our sides hurt.

I LOVE this picture! For once Dominick is not making a dumb face!

Hotter...........

Today it is supposed to be 103ish......now compared to my family members that live in Henderson, NV & Yuma, AZ that is nothing. But for here in Oregon, aka the rainy state, it is TOO HOT!

I just might be tempted to get into the pool this evening, lay on my air mattress and relax, that is if the kids don't try to drown me or splash me.

Hopefully it will keep nice and warm, as we are headed to Pacific City, the oregon coast/beach, for a long weekend. Usually when we go some strange fog rolls in and it is more like 57 then 75. Here's hoping that it is warm so I can sit on the beach and read a good book without freezing. Maybe even with a margarita in hand. :) I really need it!

The pool is now open for business....

Aaron has been working alot, and we have been really busy in the evenings so it has taken a while this year to get the pool ready for use. But as of today.........it is ready!!

Toothless wonder.........

Savannah is dropping teeth like made. She has been to the orthodontist 4 times, each time over the past 2 years, he has told her "Loose more teeth" As she had only lost 8 total teeth by the age of 9, and 10, and then 11. But in the last month she has lost 3 more. One about a month ago, one on Sunday night, and one last night. The tooth fairy has been busy at our house! So hopefully in August when she sees Dr. Sheets again, she will have lost a few more, and be ready to have those teeth straightened out.

PS: Ignore the chocolate in her teeth if you notice it, she just got done eathing Loaded Chocolate Chip Cookies Dough ice cream. :)

July Fireworks Part 1

This year we headed to Independence again to watch the fireworks. They set them off on Sunday, 7/1, and Wed. 7/4. But we always go to the Crittenden's house and do our own fireworks so we went on Sunday.

We met up with the Harter Family (Eric, Angie, Kacie, Carson & Meghan) and Amanda (her kids were with their dad).





It was perfect weather, sunny but not too hot (80ish I would say). Ate our share of fair food,the kids threw rocks into the river, looked for bugs, and other yucky stuff in the water. We did not ride the carnival rides though, they were not only scary looking, but $6.00 per ride per child. That is outrageous!



Then we saw the fireworks, they were amazing, and a great long show...here is a few.

3 day weekend....

Instead of taking a week of vacation all at once, I tende to take a Friday or two off every month during the summer, this give us some 3 day weekends to go places and do fun things.

This past weekend we went to Wildlife Safari on Friday, it is about a two hour drive from our house, and the weather was beautiful! We saw lots of animals, though were disappoionted that the elephants were taking a break that day and not doing rides. We got caught in a feeding frenzy between the ELK and the BISON, and I thought my Tahoe was going to be damaged in the pushing and shoving to get the food.

There were 2 Gibon's that were sooo talkative, they just kept swinging from branch to branch, and saying woo woo, back and forth over and over again.

Then we headed to Springfield to Roaring Rapids Pizza, and Camp Putt mini golf. Savannah lost a ball in the bushes and Aaron won, but only by 2. Savannah is just as impatient as I am when it comes to golfing.

Then we headed home.

Saturday monring we got up and headed to Portland, we went to OMSI and saw the Body World 3 exhibit. It was amazing, really after seeing 3 or 4 plastic filled bodies, they all look the same. If you are into medical stuff, go see it if you can before it leaves, but I would not pay for my kids to go if we were to do it again. They were bored with it after the first couple of people. Then we went all over OMSI the kids like the Chemistry lab, and the ball areas.

Then we headed to the hotel (do not EVER stay at the Shilo in Beaverton, the restaurant staff is SLOW, the rooms are run down, the TV tiny, and the surrounding area not the best unless you want to go to Hottie Gentlemen's club), the kids swam (the nicest part of the hotel).

Sunday we the weather called for thunder showers, and rain. Even so we headed to the Oregon Zoo. It started out nice, we saw alot of animals, and then it started to rain. It rained off and on all day, but did not ruin the day.

It was a great weekend! Can't wait for July to head to Pacific City with the Harter's. Need to think of a great 1st Anniversay gift for them before we go.

Reaching out to you all from my couch...

As the kids have got older, they also have decided to over take my computer. So as a late birthday/mother's dayn present, Aaron told me to go out and purchase myself a new computer. We decided to save on space, and to keep an eye on what the kids are doing on their computer, to go with a laptop. It is so nice to be able to sit on the couch and relax while I surf, or do my billings for daycare. Its a HP dv6358se, it is taking some time to get adjusted to the attacehd mouse pad, and not having a ten key is probably the biggest downfall, but it seemed so much more expensive to add or upgrade to one that did when I still have the desktop just right to my left.

Oh joy, what a great husband!!

Patricia-ology

Patricia-ology

ARCHAEOLOGY: the study of material remains
What's the oldest article of clothing you still wear? Flannel shirt from 1996 when I was pregnant with Savannah
What's the oldest article of clothing you won't get rid of? Outfit Savannah came home from the hospital in
When was the house/building you live in built? 2004
What in your fridge needs to be thrown out? Nothing, Friday is clean out fridge day

BIBLIOLOGY: the study of publication
What are you reading? People Magazine
Do you have a favorite quote? It's not what you say, its how you say it.
What's the most recent music you purchased? Moneymaker by Ludacris for Savannah
What book could you read again without being bored? None

CARDIOLOGY: the study of the heart
How old were you the first time you fell in love? Real love, 16
What charities do you have a heart for? Autism Speaks
What's the best way someone can show their love for you? Say how much the appreciate me
Name five things you "love": My family, my friends, my life, music & pizza

PHYSIOLOGY: the study of physical function
Are you right-handed or left-handed? Right
Do you like your smile? No
What's your best feature? Personality
Have you ever had anything removed from your body? Savannah & tonsils
Which of your five senses do you think is keenest? Hearing

OMNOLOGY: the study of everything
What color do you think looks best on you? Black
Have you ever swallowed a non-food item by mistake? No, though I almost drank Linda contact one night at the beach. :)
What's your favorite flavor of gum? Cinnamon
Where's the first place you went today? Shower, I have not left the house today yet
Do you stand or sit in the shower? Ewww gross...........Stand only!

AXIOLOGY: the study of the nature of values and value judgments
Would you walk naked for a half mile down a public street for $100,000? No
Would you kiss a member of the same sex for $100? No
Would you pose naked in a magazine for $250,000? No
What value is of utmost importance to you in a friend? Honesty
Would you accept an indecent proposal for $1,000,000? No

TECHNOLOGY: usage and knowledge of tools
What's the last movie you saw? Georgia Rules in the theater, Pretty in Pink at home
What's the first website you visit when you log on? Comcast to check email
What's your ring tone? Glamorous by Fergie
Would you quit blogging for $25,000? Sure
What piece of equipment do you wish you owned? Cannon Rebel XTI

GENEALOGY: the study of relationships within families
Is there a specific family member you're really missing right now? Sis
Who is your oldest living relative? My mother in law
Are you named after anyone? No
Is there anyone really famous in your family tree? Not that I know of

Last day of school...

Today was the last day of school for our kids. Dominick did an egg drop, where they have to create something to hold a raw egg, then Val (the custodian) drops then from the roof of the school. Only 3 kids had theirs break. And Dominick was very happy that for the 2nd year in a row his made it safely.







Savannah had her 5th grade promotion and awards assembly today. She was chosen to read her essay about her times at Clover Ridge, and she received the President's Gold Outstanding Academic Achievment award (only 2 were given) and she also received 2 peer awards, Most Athletic and Best sense of humor. The did a great slide show of the kids, between it and the wonderful songs they sung, it brought many tears to my eyes. I can't believe how quickly they are growing up.

Principal handing promotion certificate

Chelsea, Kindsey, Savannah & Tori

Late Birthday Present.......

Last night Angie and I went to celebrate my birthday...........we had been talking about when we could fit this trip in, and thought it would not be until this weekend, but they had an opening last night.......

It will darken up a little, so the centers of the cherry blossoms are more deep red, and the green around it will wear off soon (it was sharpie where he free handed the stencil). I LOVE IT!!

But if I ever say I would like another one, remind me how very much this last one hurt! OUCH!!

And he even touched up the color on the one on my other foot.... it looks new again!